Each U.S. National Park has unique attributes and views that have captured the heart of visitors for generations. It’s no different with the treasured lands that make up Indiana Dunes National Park, one of the latest parks to have received national park designation.
Located along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, astonishing views from atop shifting dunes, moments of solitude among old oak savannas and endless hiking adventures through forests carpeted in wildflowers are just a few of the park’s highlights. While there are also several historical places within the park grounds, this blog focuses on breathtaking natural settings and sights. As the 5th most biodiverse national park in the United States, there is a whole lot of natural beauty to take in here.
We’ve pulled together this guide to help spotlight all the can’t-miss natural wonders – the places in the park that you would regret missing out on if you didn’t see them on your visit.
Keep reading for more and don’t forget to make time for beachcombing, sunbathing and swimming at one of the nine beautiful beaches within the park too.
Are you a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a permanent disability?
Or does your child have a permanent disability? If so, you could visit U.S. National Parks for FREE with an Access Pass. Children with Autism also qualify. Learn more about the program, including qualifications and how to obtain an Access Pass here. Our daughter has permanent hearing loss which is how we found out about this program.
We were able to get our daughter her ACCESS pass in a few, short minutes at the Indiana Dunes National Park Visitor Center. The person who helped get us set up with the ACCESS pass couldn’t have made it easier or less intimidating. Highly recommend you consider getting an ACCESS pass, if you qualify, at this NP!
Hiking Trails at Indiana Dunes National Park
With about 50 miles of established trails within this 15,000-acre park, it can be tricky to decide which ones you’ll want to tackle. Most people think about the long sandy shoreline that forms the backbone of the park and oftentimes steals the show during a visit to the Indiana Dunes National Park. But, as one of the most biodiverse parks in the entire U.S. national park system, you will want to explore much more than just scenic beach hikes. You’ll also find grasslands, bogs, wetlands, swamps and forests too. The best way to experience the park’s diverse landscapes is by trail. Here are our top hiking trails by landscape within this national park:
Before setting out to hike any of the trails within Indiana Dunes National Park, be sure to check any alerts in effect on the Indiana Dunes National Park Website.
Dune Hikes
If you’re looking to climb dunes and likely you are, you’ll want to focus on the trails that reach the top of Mt. Jackson, Mt. Holden and Mt. Tom which all reach above 150 feet above Lake Michigan. Those are the three highest dunes, and many think the view from Mt. Tom is the most scenic; however, Mt. Tom technically sits in the Indiana Dunes State Park and requires its own paid admission to access.
On our visit to this national park, we hiked with our toddler, so we stuck to shorter, less strenuous trails. Our favorite hikes among the dunes that we completed were the Dune Succession Trail and the Mount Baldy Summit Trail (or the Mount Baldy Beach Access Trail).
Dune Succession Trail – This was our favorite hike within the national park. This is a 1-mile-long trail that leads you up wooden staircases and into the dune landscape which is the namesake of this national park. When you enter the dunes, you’ll get to enjoy diverse bird and plant species before entering the most popular beach in the park called “West Beach”. It’s a moderate trail mostly because of the elevation gain / 270 stair climb at the beginning but we found it to be easy. You’ll also find public restrooms in the parking lot near the trailhead.
For those wanting to wander around the dunes for a longer trek, you’ll find two other trails that offshoot from the Dune Succession Trail = the West Beach Trail (Loop 2) and the Long Lake Taril (Loop 3). We hiked part of the West Beach Trail (Loop 2) and were delighted by the unexpected views of Long Lake and prickly pear cactuses lining this trail. We also saw a large beaver hut on the lake and got to enjoy several species of birds hanging out in the water. The West Beach Trail is an easy trail that will lead you through a section of the park that was sand mined in the 1920s. The trail is sandy, but the sand is packed quite well. There is a parking lot along the trail by Long Lake. You’ll also find a viewing deck here. If you don’t want to hike West Beach Trail or don’t have time to, we suggest you stop at this parking lot and at least check out the viewing deck to enjoy a very different landscape within the park.
What’s with the smoke stacks? Along the shoreline you might see smokestacks reaching into the sky. These belong to a large steel manufacturing plant located at nearby Burns Harbor, Indiana.
Mount Baldy Beach Access Trail – Mount Baldy is the tallest dune in the park. It sits one hundred and twenty-six feet above water. The dune is continually shifting, which makes it difficult to provide visitors with safe access to the dune and a stable trail. The vegetation on Mount Baldy has also recently started to return and remains a fragile ecosystem. For these reasons, the dune is closed to hiking and climbing unless you join a ranger-led hike to explore Mount Baldy. The ranger-led hikes of this area are typically offered later in the day which means you’ll get to enjoy a sunset as a hiking backdrop. On clear days you can also see the Chicago Skyline at the top of the Mount Baldy Summit Trail. If you decide a ranger-led hike on Mount Baldy isn’t for you, you can still enjoy the dynamic landscapes of the dunes and Mount Baldy from the Lake Michigan Shoreline. Mount Baldy Beach sits at the base of the largest living dune field in the park and offers visitors magnificent views of Mount Baldy. From the Mount Baldy Beach Access parking lot, you can pick up the trail to the beach. The trail is about 0.36-miles long or 0.75-miles round trip. It’s a moderate trail mostly because it has a large section of loose sand which can be destabilizing at times – mostly when you are hiking down to the beach. We spent less than an hour here and we highly recommend this hike for the impressive dune and Lake Michigan views it provides.
Did you know? Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes to be fully situated within the United States boundaries. The other four lakes span the United States and Canada.
Show your support for the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes hold about 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. The Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonprofit organization that works to protect the Great Lakes from misuse and pollution so future generations can enjoy the lakes. Help protect the Great Lakes by volunteering for a beach clean-up or donating to their mission. Learn more about how to donate and get involved today.
Can you name all five of the Great Lakes? The correct answer can be found at the end of this blog post!
Marsh Landscapes
Great Marsh Trail – Within Indiana Dunes National Park vast stretches of marsh lay inland from Lake Michigan. You can hike through one on this easy, 1.3-mile trail that is a hotspot for birding. If you start the hike from the accessible trail and parking lot, about 0.2 miles into the hike you will find the observation deck which offers spectacular views of this restored marsh and wading birds like herons, egrets and sandhill cranes. This trail runs through “the largest interdunal wetlands in the Lake Michigan watershed” (Indiana Dunes) and the wetland is said to have more plants and animals than any other habitat within the park.
River and Wildflower Landscapes
Heron Rookery Trail – After getting your fill of sand and waves, enjoy a woodsy retreat on the Heron Rookery Trail. This easy, 3.3-mile out and back trail allows hikers to experience parts of the national park that stretches inland into more rugged ecosystems with an impressive diversity of plants and trees. It offers incredible views of spring flowers with a trail that hugs the Little Calumet (Little Cal) River. Here you will find shagbark hickory trees which look like they are constantly shedding their bark. In the spring wildflowers are everywhere. Dutchman’s breeches, trillium and mayapples – all native to the area – put on quite the show. If you need help figuring out what plant or flower you might be looking at visit identify.plantnet.org.
Woodland and Wetland Landscapes
Paul H. Douglas Trail – tucked behind the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is where you will find the trailhead for the Paul H. Douglas Trail Center loop which is an easy 0.9-mile hike. The highlight of this trail is Miller Woods which is a globally rare black oak savanna.
We also enjoyed trekking across the boardwalk along the top of the wetland and hiking among interdunal ponds spread across the trail.
For a longer, moderate hike you can continue for a 3.4-mile out and back hike with a 46 feet elevation gain through several different landscapes. We’ve heard that once you cross the bridge over the Grand Calumet River, the landscape changes dramatically into a world of towering sand dunes!
If you plan to hike any part of this trail and especially if you will be visiting the park with kids, we highly recommend you take time to explore the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. There is a fun animal room, interactive exhibits, backpacks for naturalists you can check out for daily use (for free!) and an information station manned by a park ranger. They also had free park posters available for visitors to take when we visited!
Beyond Hiking – Other things to do and see
Make a Beach Day of it
There are nine beach areas crossing both national park and state parklands making this place an excellent beach destination for all ages and all types of beach goers. For those looking for a more relaxing and quiet beach day, check out Kemil Beach or Dunbar Beach. If you’re looking for a beach humming with excitement, then you’ll want to visit West Beach, which also has lifeguards in the summer months. The West Beach will also give you direct access to the Dune Succession Trail.
Visiting with kids? While you’re relaxing, the kids can earn a Junior Ranger Beachcombers patch by completing a fun activity sheet!
If you are a first-time visitor, you’ll want to stop at the Indiana Dune National Lakeshore Visitor Center. Here you can purchase your pass, chat with staff, pick up paper maps. watch an informative video, check out exhibits featuring native wildlife and snag a souvenir at the gift shop. Bonus! The official Indiana Dunes National Park sign is close to this visitor center too – just a two minute ride away (Google Map).
Historical Sites
There is a plethora of historical sites located throughout Indiana Dunes National Park. These sites mostly showcase different eras of architecture and ways of living. Three such sites include: Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm and the Century of Progress Homes. We drove by the Century of Progress Homes which are a historic landmark in the national park. These homes were built in 1933-1934 for the Chicago World’s Fair. After the fair, the houses were placed on barges and moved to this spot which is known as Beverly Shores. At the time the plan was to make Beverly Shores a thriving beach resort destination. However, plans to build up this area were halted due to lingering effects of the Great Depression. The houses remain along the lakeshore and are a great example of mid-20th century design. The houses were initially built to showcase different materials and styles considered innovative at that time. Guided tours are offered each fall. Advanced registration is required. Click here for tour information on the National Park website.
Beyond the Park: Worthy Detours
1. Stock up on sweet and sugary souvenirs at the Albanese Candy Factory Outlet in Merrillville, Indiana.
Most gummy candies can be purchased in bulk and for a fraction of the cost as in stores if you go with one of their “Gummi Goof-Ups” bags. You can also tour the factory and sample treats for free during a visit.
2. See Flick at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond, Indiana.
Everyone knows the scene from the movie, “A Christmas Story” where Flick is triple-dog-dared to lick the frozen pole. You can snap a photo with this famous scene right outside the South Shore Convention and Visitors Center. There is a permanent, bronze statue of Flick outside the building. You’ll also find button you can push by the statue that plays brief audio explaining the Why is Flick in Hammond, Indiana? Well, we’re glad you asked! The movie was set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana which was inspired by the author’s childhood home which was Hammond, Indiana.
If you head inside the Visitor’s Center you will find a replica of the iconic Leg Lamp too!
3. Check out the house where Michael Jackson once lived in Gary, Indiana.
The house is small, humble and makes for a great photo. You can also visit the Northern Indiana Hard Rock Casino to see some of MJ’s clothing items and other Jackson family items on display.
We think it’s worth mentioning that there are no lodges, restaurants or general facilities in the Indiana Dunes National Park, so after you fill your day with fun, you’ll have to leave the park for a bite to eat and rest. We stayed in Michigan City, Indiana, which is only a 7-minute drive from Mount Baldy. Chicago is just an hour away and seems to be a popular homebase option for those for those looking for more action.
May you one day find yourself out on a trail in Indiana Dunes National Park – humbled and in awe of the unparallel, 360 degree views this NP serves up!
~ Alyssa + Justin
Disclaimer: Parks and Planes is an informative resource for readers. Due to unforeseen conditions like National Park closures, policies, construction and other natural changes to the park and its trail, Parks and Planes, LLC does not assume liability for the accuracy of posts, trail conditions and directions. Parks and Planes strives to accurately describe and document details as experienced during the date and time of the visit. Please travel safely when hiking here and visiting recommended sites and places mentioned in this blog post. As always all photos, opinions and content are our own.
